Sounders FC announce partnership with Tanzania

Two prominent murals will be displayed inside the stadium in the northwest and northeast tunnels.

RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders FC announced today a partnership with Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa. To mark the occasion, Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Honorable Ambassador Khamis S. Kagasheki, MP, joined by the Tanzania Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Ambassador Mwanaidi S. Maajar, led a senior level tourism delegation to Seattle.

Key elements of the partnership include large-scale, full-color signage at highly visible areas within CenturyLink Field and Starfire Sports Complex, the Sounders FC training facility located in Tukwila, WA. The signage will feature iconic images of signature tourist attractions including: Mount Kilimanjaro, The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar.

"Our partnership with the Tanzania Tourist Board provides a visual reference to a country with unprecedented natural wonders and celebrated destinations to our fans,” said Sounders FC owner Joe Roth. “It also offers an excellent opportunity to access a key region in the global market.”

Hon. Amb. Kagasheki in commenting about the partnership with the Sounders FC noted, “We believe that this multi-faceted partnership will enhance our efforts in promoting Destination Tanzania in the United States especially on the West Coast as well as promote investment and trade opportunities in Tanzania.”

Two prominent murals will be displayed inside the stadium in the northwest and northeast tunnels. The murals will be visible for the first time during the nationally televised Sounders FC versus Chelsea FC match at CenturyLink Field on July 18. The Tanzania Tourist Board will also have a presence in the Sounders’ pre-match fan zone, ‘Soccer Celebration’, to share travel information about their country.

The Sounders FC began discussing a relationship with Tanzania during the 2010 season when Sounders FC assistant coach/scout Kurt Schmid traveled to Tanzania to expand scouting efforts in the often over looked countries in East Africa and attend National Team training. The team invited forward Mrisho Ngassa to train with the Sounders FC.
Ngassa came to the Sounders FC on trial from Azam FC, one of the clubs which plays in the Tanzania Premier League. Ngassa saw limited action during the team’s 2011 friendly with Manchester United.